, 1887-05-06
ROCKINGHAM TERMS.
A PROFESSOR OF seLLes-LETTREs
GIVES A HISTORY OF THEIR USE.

Slang Not so Worthy OF Unqualified Con-
domination Es Many People Suppose
How Everyday Idioms Give Scope TO
All InventIvc Fancy.
THE everyday idioms Of The English
language commonly called slang arc not
80 worthy of unqualified condemnation as
many prudlsh people suppose, :" observed n
professor of belles-lettres to n reporter the
other day.
They nave a direct, Hgurative signi1-
canoe md give scope to an inventive
fancy. For example, the expression
You mako me tired indicates to a
shade the feeling of lnssitude inflicted by
a bore. Agnin. Whit are yOu giving usf'
is merely a iguratiye way of expressing
incredulity. Many sanguinary conflicts
hnvo doubtless been avcrted by its use, rs
the rugged. synonymous phrase, You are
lying, sirl' has been K lown to give offense
TO certain eccentric persons. Many slang
phrases are the embodiment OF n polite
spirit. When you arc out with the boys
and exhibit in meteoric flashes the slum-
berinG hilarity In your nature, to be told
TINT you are intoxicated strikes n gcnsi-
tive CHORD In you breast; but TO he nc
costed with What nm elegant load you
hnve got brings n smile of assent and sat
isfnction to you countenance every time.
Gentlemen never acknowledge TO being
drunk. II Is Il still or n jag they hive
on. The word drunk applies only TO
tratnps. They ore Synonymous forms.
Every acuto intellect Will recognize this
subtle shade of meaning.
Gentlemen Of pugilistic procliyities are
very careful in their language. They mp
precinte the modifying effects of slang
idioms and are particular to employ them
In speaking of their Who
ever heard a champion Of the ring say
that he gave his antagonist o black eye
or a bloody nose! He prefers, in u spirit
OF chivalry, more elegant terms, and will
say that he closed u pepper or tapped the
clarct.' If he knocks his opponent down
ho will say considerably that he sent him
to grass If he gains II victory he will
not injurc the feelings of the vanquished
party BY Boosting that he thrashed ham,
but Will pour balm upon his wounds by
stating politely that he done him up
DRAWN STILL FURTHER.
The parallel between slang phrases
and rugged English, - continued the pro-
fcssor, "mny ho drawn still further. No
nun is so devoid of fine feeling as I o
acknowledge TINT he has pawned an
article. 1t is less shocking to hint with a
wink that his uncle has 1t, or that it is
ia hook, or even hat he has hung it up
These expressions exhibit tho deed from u
humorous point of view. In all walks of life
we ind this same endeayor at p~olitencss.
A thief Ia called n fly man or u crook q
bride taker Is called q 'boodler' and
%swindlers are called 'bunco steerers' and
'sa.wdust men, This is MS 1t should be.
Tie English language, devoid OF its lgura-
tive idiOms, IL simply brutal. This nc
cunts for the birth Of the word dude. ;
IL IS far more elegant than its synonym,
fool The ruthless small boy might hest
t"'y ut the latter, but the former he can
STOUT out ut the top of his lungs whenever
SOME tribe Of humanity may be blown
ac.uss his path.
"A slang term that has peculiar signih-
canoe "a . chippy chaser This is applied TO
the prosecutions of honorable working girls.
They stand upon the street corners until
some pretty girls pass by, and then follow
them block after block, talking In n loud
voice Il otherwise annoying them. 1t is
gratifying TO know that they are generally
LETT This last expression Is applicable
TO those who fail to attain the objects of
their desires. Tn 'chippy chaser If sue
cessful in making the clAndestino ac-
qunintance he seeks, and in making an
appointment for some future evening, Is,
Us a rule, stood up This means, in un-
Vanished English, that he stands for hour
after hour ut the appointed place awaiting
the arrival of the expected female, proba-
bly, in Il violent rain Or snow storm, for n
'chippy chaser never gives up hope, while
the honest girl is probably sleeping in her
bed.
"Hore again the politeness OF slang
idlomg is demonstrated. The synonym OF
'chippy chaser' is the pitinblc word idiot, ;
which is rather On unpleasant sounding
term to be applied to a young man. The
inventor Of this idlom merits the hearty
thanks of the brotherhood.
"It is obvious, - remarked the professor
In conclusion, from the foregoing cxposi-
ton that our slang originates from the
innate delicacy of feeling which is a
characteristic of Americans from the
small boy up. The English language,
when plainly spoken, Is harsh and jarring
md contains many unpleasant words.
Men of fine feeling naturally express
themselves in q hgurativc, or, to be less
scholarly, a Pickwickian sense. New
York Mail and Express.